Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a Linux kernel memory-leak flaw in the CPPC CPU frequency driver. If initialization fails, allocated resources may not be freed. The business risk is reliability and resource-exhaustion impact on affected Linux systems, especially where the relevant cpufreq/CPPC path is used.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority Linux kernel maintenance item, not an emergency internet-facing incident based on current evidence. Prioritize patching production Linux systems where kernel reliability matters, especially fleets using CPU frequency management.
Technical view
CVE-2021-47313 resolves a resource leak in `cppc_cpufreq_cpu_init`: memory allocated during policy initialization was not released on failure paths. The source classifies it as CWE-400 with CVSS 8.4 and local attack vector. Kernel stable commits are cited as fixes, but distro-specific applicability must be verified.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Linux systems running affected kernel builds with the CPPC cpufreq code path present or enabled. The bundle lists Linux kernel version entries including 5.11, 5.12.19, 5.13.4, and 5.14, but exact downstream package status requires vendor confirmation.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not cite active exploitation, and KEV is false. The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction. Available evidence supports a kernel resource-management issue, not remote exploitation.
Researcher notes
Analysis is constrained to the supplied CVE bundle. The root issue is a failure-path cleanup bug in CPPC cpufreq initialization. The bundle provides fix commits but not exploit details, operational prerequisites, or distro package mappings.
Mitigation direction
- Update affected Linux kernels using vendor or distribution guidance.
- Confirm the fix includes the referenced upstream stable commits.
- Reboot systems after kernel updates so the patched kernel is active.
- Prioritize Linux hosts using CPPC/cpufreq functionality.
- Track vendor advisories for backported fixes and exact package versions.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Linux kernel versions across affected fleets.
- Check whether CPPC cpufreq support is present or enabled.
- Verify running kernels include the referenced stable fixes.
- Review vendor advisories for distribution-specific affected packages.
- Monitor affected systems for abnormal memory pressure or instability.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-400: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-47313 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.4 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.55.9CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.4HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b775383355755885b19d2acef977f1ca132e80a3CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e1b2b2b61d30d7ce057ec17237c217d152ed97f2CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fe2535a44904a77615a3af8e8fd7dafb98fb0e1bCVE reference, Linux
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Uncontrolled Resource Consumption
Uncontrolled Resource Consumption represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.